Rotary brush construction

ABSTRACT

The brush includes a pair of like cast iron hub members adapted to be fixedly attached coaxially to a rotary driver, to which hubs a throw-away type brush-mounting subassembly is removably mounted. This comprises a plurality of identical quasicylindrical aluminum brush-mounting extrusions, shown herein as semi-cylindrical, which are axially coextensive with the brush construction. Each such extrusion is formed to provide, on one of its two opposite axially extending edges, a radially offset lip which interlaps with a non-offset edge of a corresponding succeeding extrusion, leaving inner surfaces of the successive mounting parts radially flush and substantially continuous in the circumferential sense. The two extrusion parts assembly are readily separable radially from one another, and from the hub structure, by reason of the overlap lip edge engagement feature and to this end, each half or quasi-cylindrical component receives screws taking threadedly into the hub members for a throw-away disposal of the extrusions along with their worn brush components without touching the hubs.

United States Patent [1 1 Reiter ROTARY BRUSH CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventor: Robert C. Reiter, Aurora, 111.

[73] Assignee: Material Control, Inc., Aurora, 111.

[22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 348,119

3,134,123 5/1964 Nelson 15/182 3,139,641 7/1964 Grogan et al. 15/182 3,533,125 10/1970 Buechel et a1. 15/183 Primary Examiner-Peter Feldman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Whittemore, Hulbert & Belknap 1 1 Jan. 28, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT the brush construction. Each such extrusion is formed to provide, on one of its two opposite axially extending edges, a radially offset lip which interlaps with a non-offset edge of a corresponding succeeding extrusion, leaving inner surfaces of the successive mounting parts radially flush and substantially continuous in the circumferential sense. The two extrusion parts assembly are readily separable radially from one another, and from the hub structure, by reason of the overlap lipedge engagement feature and to this end, each half or quasi-cylindrical component receives screws taking threadedly into the hub members for a throw-away disposal of the extrusions along with their worn brush components without touching the hubs.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 ROTARY BRUSH CONSTRUCTION CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS My co-pending application, Ser. No. 348,118, filed Apr. 5, 1973, discloses and claims a generally related quick change segmental brush construction specifically different structurally and in point of assembly procedure from that herein described and claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The brush construction relates to the field of beltcleaning apparatus, in which a cleaning unit of a brush or scraper type is disposed beneath and in engagement with a lower, return reach of a continuously traveling conveyor belt to remove potentially destructive foreign matter from a surface of the latter. However, application of the invention is also contemplated in other more or less related fields of rotary brush use, for example, in finishing or polishing.

2. Description of the Prior Art The following patents are deemed to be at least generally pertinent:

Nelson 3,1 34, l23 5-26-64 Park 2,978,726 4-11-61 Whiteman 2,978,725 4-] l-6l Jones 2,970,333 2-7-61 Peterson 2,757,401 8-7-56 Sawyer et al 2,673,440 3-30-54 Meyer et al 2,575,635 ll--5l Murray 991,876 v 5-9-1] The most pertinent of the above citations appear to be the patents to Nelson and Peterson. However, neither shows or suggests the removable, interleaved throw-away type of brush structure with which the present invention deals. In both instances, although quasi-cylindrical segmental brush mounts are present, there is either a permanent, non-separable connection of such mounts to one another or to a rotative driver.

SUMMARY OFTI-IE INVENTION As mounted by an appropriate rigid bracket structure and rotatively powered by a simple belt and pulley unit, the brush structure of the invention typically rotates in light brushing engagement beneath a return reach of an industrial conveyor belt as the latter rounds a tail pulley or drum, to remove from the belt surface inevitable accumulations of particulate foreign matter. Thus belt life is lengthened and economy is had generally by eliminating periodic belt clean-up expense. The simple but rugged hub construction of the brush, despite the fact that it incorporates fairly fragile releasably mated brush mounting extrusions, enables the unit to withstand the hardest usage; a preferred helical disposition of the brush components in relation to the brush axis eliminates annoying beating noise effect present in a unit whose channeled brush mounts parallel the rotative axis.

The edge overlap of the extrusions shields the brush interior, in particular the cast hubs of the structure, against entry of the foreign matter particles, and when it is judged that the brush components have become inacceptably worn the entire assembly of mounting extrusions and sheet metal-backed brush components (the latter as permanently disposed in integral channels of the extrusion) is simply removed and discarded,

LII

being replaced by similar substitute assembly. The low cost of the construction makes this entirely practical; and the time-consuming operation of driving the brush units out of the extrusion channels is avoided. This is an operation which is often awkward and difficult and, moreover, one apt to damage the extrusion to an extent to render it unusable again in any event.

Furthermore, removal and replacement of the extrusion and backed brush sub-assembly are accomplished without disturbing the mount of the brush to its rotative driver in any way as has heretofore been necessary. That is, bearings, sheaves, belt guide means, hub structure mounting the extrusions and other motor-drive arrangements are left untouched, with the result that another significant saving of time ordinarily consumed in such operations is made, and extended down times are avoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the ultimately assembled brush units and driver hub components in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is an axial end elevation of the brush assembly of FIG. 1, being partially broken away and in transverse vertical cross section to show a mounting screw detail.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As illustrated in FIG. 1, the brush construction of the invention, as generally designated by the reference numeral 10, comprises a pair of identical end hub members 11 in the form of relatively massive metallic or non-metallic castings, which are axially spaced from one another and spanned and encased by a pair 'of identical brush-mounting shells or members, each generally designated 12. These are shown as being semicylindrical in nature, but may well be of less than arcuate extent, for example as shown in the aboveidentified Nelson patent.

Each of the mounting members 12, as best shown in FIG. 2, is in the form of a semi-cylindrical extrusion 14 of metal or appropriate rigid, moldable plastic, which is shaped to afford, at circumferentially equally spaced points about its periphery, identical outwardly opening U-shaped channels 13 defined between integral lipformations 15, which formations converge radially outwardly at a mild angle to one another. The formations 13 each receive a brush unit, generally designated 16, which in a known way comprises an assembly of nylon strand or equivalent brush elements 17 held in assembly by means including a thin gauge backing strip 18, also of U-shaped cross section. The strip is proportioned for an axially slidable mating engagement in the channel 13; and it is by preference rigidly united and held permanently in this assembly, as by crimping over the ends of the lips 15, in view of the throw-away nature of the shell and brush assembly. The outer edges of the extruded channel lips 15 terminate radially a bit inwardly of corresponding edges of the backing strip 18.

Pursuant to the invention the extrusions 14 are each formed to provide, along one axially extending edge thereof, a radially outwardly offset flange or lip 20 of substantial circumferential width which radially outwardly overlaps a plain, non-offset opposite edge portion 21 of the extrusion 14 next adjacent it.

The inner diameters of said extrusions are the same as the outer diameter of a mounting portion of the hub member 11, so that a mated and interleaved assembly of the extrusion shells 14, as mounted to the hub components, results in which the shells have their inner surfaces circumferentially flush with one another in a substantially continuous way and with a very stable continuous encirclement of portions of the hubs 11. Yet the relationship is one which permits a free, radially outward disengagement of the brush and extrusion assembly from the hub structure, and an equally easy replacement, without disturbing any associated driver or bearing means, as mentioned above.

For the mounting purpose referred to each of the hub components 1 1 has an outer hub sleeve portion proper, designated 24, adapted to be ridigly secured, as by a set screw 25, to a rotary drive shaft or other rotary mounting element for the brush unit and an integral inner, radially outwardly enlarged boss or flange portion 26 radially drilled and tapped at 27 to receive readily releasable mounting screws 28 for the brush-supporting halves 12.

As appears in FIG. 2, these are simply machine screws 28, whose heads 29 are outwardly exposed in circumferential spaces appropriately apertured at 30 per FIG. 1 certain of the brush securing channels 13. They clamp the brush mounts in a rigid, truly cylindrical shell assembly directly engaging and surrounding the hub bosses or flanges 26, affording an inexpensive releasable and disposable brush structure having the numerous advantages set forth above. As also indicated above, the channels 13 receiving the brush units 16 may be helically contoured in cross section in the axial sense as an anti-slap measure, or not.

What is claimed is:

l. A throw-away cylinder-type rotary brush construction comprising a rotary axial support, at least two like quasi-cylindrical mounting members releasably mounted coaxially about said support, each of said members having at one circumferential extremity thereof a radially offset edge portion which is of the same radial thickness as the remainder of said member, and having at the opposite circumferential extremity thereof a non-offset edge portion also of the same radial thickness as the remainder of the member, said non-offset portion being circumferentially lapped, as mounted to the support, by the offset edge portion of an adjacent successive mounting member in a manner such that said mounting members are circumferentially flush across their lapped edge portions along the radially inner surfaces of the members, and are readily disengageable from the support and from one another in a radially outward movement, and means to secure the members to said support for individual such radial disengagement and release from the support, said members having means to receive and mount a circumferential series of axially extending brush elements, which elements release from said support unitarily with the respective mounting members and can be unitarily discarded therewith.

2. A throw-away cylinder-type rotary brush construction comprising a hub-like rotary axial support, at least two like quasi-cylindrical mounting members of extruded stock, each of said members having at one circumferential extremity thereof a radially offset edge portion which is of the same radial thickness as the remainder of said member, and having at the opposite circumferential extremity thereof a non-offset edge portion also of the same radial thickness as the remainder of the member, said non-offset portion being circumferentially lapped, as mounted to the support, by the offset edge portion of an adjacent successive mounting member in a manner such that said mounting members are circumferentially flush across their lapped edge portions along the radially inner surfaces of the members, and are readily disengageable from the support and from one another in a radially outward movement, and radially extending threaded elements to secure the members to said support for individual such radial disengagement and release from said support, said members having means extending radially outwardly thereof to slidably receive and mount a circumferential series of axially extending brush sets, which sets release from said support unitarily with the respective mounting members and can be unitarily discarded therewith.

3. The brush construction of claim 1, in which said means receiving and mounting said brush elements comprises radially outwardly opening channel elements fixed on the respective mounting members, said brush elements each having an axially elongated brushcarrying backing element slidably engaged in a channel formation of a mounting member and locked at its ends to said formation.

4. The brush construction of claim 2, in which said means receiving and mounting said brush sets comprises radially outwardly opening channel elements integral with the respective mounting members, said brush sets each including an axially elongated brushcarrying backing element slidably engaged in a channel formation of a mounting member and locked at its ends to said formation.

5. The brush constuction of claim 1, in which said axial support comprises a pair of like coaxial and axially spaced hub members each having means for securing the same to a rotary driver at extreme axial ends of said mounting members, said hub members each presenting a cylindrical boss portion having means releasably receiving said securing means.

6. The brush construction of claim 2, in which said axial support comprises a pair of like coaxial and axially spaced hub members each having means for securing the same to a rotary driver at extreme axial ends of said mounting members, said hub members each presenting a cylindrical boss portion having threaded means releasably receiving said threaded securing elements.

7. The brush construction of claim 3, in which said axial support comprises a pair of like coaxial and axially spaced hub members each having means for securing the same to a rotary driver at extreme axial ends of said mounting members, said hub members each presenting a cylindrical boss portion having means releasably receiving said securing means.

8. The brush construction of claim 4, in which said axial support comprises a pair of like coaxial and axially spaced hub members each having means for securing the same to a rotary driver at extreme axial ends of said mounting members, said hub members each presenting a cylindrical boss portion having threaded means releasably receiving said threaded securing elements. 

1. A throw-away cylinder-type rotary brush construction comprising a rotary axial support, at least two like quasicylindrical mounting members releasably mounted coaxially about said support, each of said members having at one circumferential extremity thereof a radially offset edge portion which is of the same radial thickness as the remainder of said member, and having at the opposite circumferential extremity thereof a non-offset edge portion also of the same radial thickness as the remainder of the member, said non-offset portion being circumferentially lapped, as mounted to the support, by the offset edge portion of an adjacent successive mounting member in a manner such that said mounting members are circumferentially flush across their lapped edge portions along the radially inner surfaces of the members, and are readily disengageable from the support and from one another in a radially outward movement, and means to secure the members to said support for individual such radial disengagement and release from the support, said members having means to receive and mount a circumferential series of axially extending brush elements, which elements release from said support unitarily with the respective mounting members and can be unitarily discarded therewith.
 2. A throw-away cylinder-type rotary brush construction comprising a hub-like rotary axial support, at least two like quasi-cylindrical mounting members of extruded stock, each of said members having at one circumferential extremity thereof a radially offset edge portion which is of the same radial thickness as the remainder of said member, and having at the opposite circumferential extremity thereof a non-offset edge portion also of the same radial thickness as the remainder of the member, said non-offset portion being circumferentially lapped, as mounted to the support, by the offset edge portion of an adjacent successive mounting member in a manner such that said mounting members are circumferentially flush across their lapped edge portions along the radially inner surfaces of the members, and are readily disengageable from the support and from one another in a radially outward movement, and radially extending threaded elements to secure the members to said support for individual such radial disengagement and release from said support, said members Having means extending radially outwardly thereof to slidably receive and mount a circumferential series of axially extending brush sets, which sets release from said support unitarily with the respective mounting members and can be unitarily discarded therewith.
 3. The brush construction of claim 1, in which said means receiving and mounting said brush elements comprises radially outwardly opening channel elements fixed on the respective mounting members, said brush elements each having an axially elongated brush-carrying backing element slidably engaged in a channel formation of a mounting member and locked at its ends to said formation.
 4. The brush construction of claim 2, in which said means receiving and mounting said brush sets comprises radially outwardly opening channel elements integral with the respective mounting members, said brush sets each including an axially elongated brush-carrying backing element slidably engaged in a channel formation of a mounting member and locked at its ends to said formation.
 5. The brush constuction of claim 1, in which said axial support comprises a pair of like coaxial and axially spaced hub members each having means for securing the same to a rotary driver at extreme axial ends of said mounting members, said hub members each presenting a cylindrical boss portion having means releasably receiving said securing means.
 6. The brush construction of claim 2, in which said axial support comprises a pair of like coaxial and axially spaced hub members each having means for securing the same to a rotary driver at extreme axial ends of said mounting members, said hub members each presenting a cylindrical boss portion having threaded means releasably receiving said threaded securing elements.
 7. The brush construction of claim 3, in which said axial support comprises a pair of like coaxial and axially spaced hub members each having means for securing the same to a rotary driver at extreme axial ends of said mounting members, said hub members each presenting a cylindrical boss portion having means releasably receiving said securing means.
 8. The brush construction of claim 4, in which said axial support comprises a pair of like coaxial and axially spaced hub members each having means for securing the same to a rotary driver at extreme axial ends of said mounting members, said hub members each presenting a cylindrical boss portion having threaded means releasably receiving said threaded securing elements. 